 |
| Fr. Robert Kus, Fr. Marcos Leonand Fr. David Labuda MM |
On September 12, the Fr. Price Chapter in Wilmington, North Carolina, had their own kickoff for the celebration of the Maryknoll Centennial at St. Mary's Parish. On this date in 1910, Father Thomas Frederick Price, a diocesan priest from North Carolina, met with Fr. James Anthony Walsh, from Boston, at a Eucharistic Congress in Canada and together decided to establish the first America foreign mission society, what would eventually become the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, popularly known as Maryknoll.
Fr. Price, known as the Tar Heel Apostle, was the first North Carolinian to be ordained to the priesthood in 1886. He died in China on September 11, 1919. You can read about his cause of canonization here.
 |
| Blessing of Garden and Labyrinth |
The celebrant of the Mass was Cape Fear Dean Fr. Marcos Leon, representing Bishop Michael Burbidge—a letter from whom was read at the Mass. He was assisted by Fr. Robert Kus, pastor of St, Mary’s Parish and Fr. David La Buda MM, who is from the Wilmington area and who has served in Central America and Mexico.
 |
| Fr. Dave La Buda breaking ground |
Prior to the Mass, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the Fr. Price Memorial Garden and Labyrinth, located near the Church and sponsored by the Fr. Price Chapter.
They had coverage by the local newspaper and television station. Read more and see a video from the WWAY here.
 |
| Maryknoll Affiliates Gaye Hieb (center) and Vicki Howard (right) with Frs. La Buda, Leon and Kus |
